BLACKHAWKS BITS

Troy Brouwer makes life easier for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews

Chicago Blackhawks winger a force of his own

The Blackhawks' brightest young stars, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, make up two-thirds of the team's top offensive line. That other guy playing alongside them is Troy Brouwer.

The rookie winger is making his presence felt during the Stanley Cup playoffs on the Hawks' No. 1 scoring line, throwing his body around and doing the grunt work in the corners to provide support for the marquee names.

"I'm there really to be just a big body and create space for them," said Brouwer, who has two assists in the Hawks' 12 postseason games entering Sunday's Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. "They don't dump the puck in too often, but when they do I have to go in and be the one to finish my check and create turnovers so they can do what they do best."

The 6-foot-2-inch, 213-pounder isn't just a grinder. He scored 76 goals in two seasons playing in the American Hockey League before joining the Hawks full time this season to post 10 goals and 16 assists in 69 games. Playing with Kane and Toews often means scoring chances even when he's not expecting it.

"There have been a couple of times when I'll be standing in front of the net and my stick is on the ice, but I'm not really expecting the pass to get through and it does," Brouwer, 23, said.

"With these kids you have to expect anything. Their skill level is so high they'll be able to hit you wherever you are and create plays no matter where they are."

Traffic zone: Winger Dustin Byfuglien made a name for himself by parking his 6-3, 247-pound frame in front of Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo during the Hawks' conference semifinal series victory over the Canucks.

Byfuglien and Luongo exchanged words throughout the series in what was mostly a friendly rivalry. How good is Wings goalie Chris Osgood at trash talking?

"I don't even know -- we'll find out," Byfuglien said. "It's something we're going to have to do. Every goalie hates traffic, and we're going to have to do our best to get in front."

Hold that puck: Part of the Wings' formula for success is their ability to maintain puck possession, something the Hawks need to become adept at themselves.

"They're the best at it," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "That's going to be the challenge for us. We have to manage [the puck] better. Late in shifts we have to do the right things with it. When we do have it, manage it well but [when we don't] try to get it back as soon as we can."